1.National Affairs
PM lays the foundation stone of AIIMS at Rajkot in Gujarat
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Rajkot in Gujarat through virtual conference.
The institute will set up in 201 acres of land near Rajkot at an estimated cost of INR 1,195 crore and is expected to be completed by 2022.
The institute will have a state-of-the-art 750-bed hospital sporting 125 MBBS seats and 60 nursing seats.
2.International Affairs
WHO clears Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has cleared Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use paving way for poorer countries to get access to the vaccine shot.
The first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine opens doors for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import & administer the vaccine.
The vaccine which has already received clearance in the US, UK and EU meets the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO.
Quick Fact: The World Health Organisation (WHO) was formed on 7 April, 1948.
3.Person in News
Former Indian Hockey team player Michael Condo passes away
India’s 1975 hockey World-Cup winning and 1972 Olympics bronze winning team member Michael Kondo breathed his last at the age of 73.
Kindo was bestowed with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1972.
Kondo was the member of the team that won the lone World Cup for India in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur and a bronze medal in the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
Quick Fact: Manpreet Singh is the current captain of India Men’s National Hockey Team.
4.National Affairs
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Virtual Agri-Hackathon 2020
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare , Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Virtual Agri-hackathon 2020.
The Virtual Agri-Hackathon 2020 was organised by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare in association with IARI, Pusa.
The 2 month long event was made live on MyGov.in and is the largest virtual event to create dialogues and accelerate innovations in the field of Indian agriculture.
5.Person in News
Indian Army veteran Col Narinder “Bull” Kumar passes away
Indian Army veteran Colonel Narinder “Bull” Kumar who helped India in conquering the Siachen Glacier in 1984 breathed his last at the age of 87.
Col Kumar carried out reconnaissance expeditions with his team bringing back crucial ground situations and carved maps for the army to carry out ‘Operation Meghdoot’.
Col Kumar was awarded the Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and McGregor Medal besides being the first Indian to climb Mt. Nanda Devi.
6.National Affairs
PM lays the foundation stone of Light House Projects at six sites
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Light House Projects (LHPs) under Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC)-India across six states in the country.
The LHPs will showcase the best forms of technology being used for public welfare and to support urban housing needs,
The projects will prove to be like incubation centres for planners, engineers, architects and students where they will be able to experiment with the new technology.
7.Miscellaneous
Mother Teresa memorial Award for Social Justice felicitated
The Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice was hosted by the Harmony Foundation and is the only award endorsed by Sister Prema.
The theme of this year’s awards was ‘Celebrating Compassion In Times of Covid’.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Fabio Stevenazzi, Pradeep Kumar, Cristian Fracassi, Alessandro Romaioli, Sanjay Pandey were some of the awardees this year.
Quick Fact: Sister Prema- Superior General of the ‘Missionaries of Charity’, the religious institute founded by Mother Teresa.
8.India and the World
India and ADB sign USD 231 million loan to augment electricity generation capacity
India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD 231 million loan to augment electricity generation capacity in Assam.
A 120 MW hydroelectric power plant will be set up to enhance the availability of electricity for households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,60,000 tonnes annually.
